Clam-Gallas Palace is one of the most beautiful Baroque palaces in Prague. It is set amongst the narrow streets and quaint buildings of the Old Town, between the Old Town Square and Charles Bridge.

During the 18th century, great balls and concerts were held at Clam-Gallas Palace, attended by the likes of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his contemporaries.

Ludwig van Beethoven even played a concert here, dedicating certain musical pieces to the Clam-Gallas family.

The palace was conceived in 1713 by the imperial court architect Johann Bernhard Fisher von Erlach from Vienna. It was constructed by the Italian architect Domenico Canevale.

It was built for the Viceroy of Naples, Johann Wenceslaus, Count of Gallas. However, when the Gallas family died out in 1757, the palace was devolved to the Clam family, establishing the Clam-Gallas name.

Clam-Gallas Palace is a monumental complex consisting of four tracts centred around a large courtyard; a classic example of pure Viennese Baroque architecture. Giant statues by M.B. Braun are sited at the entrances.

Inside the palace is a beautiful staircase, with paintings by the famous Italian artist Carlo Carlone above it, most of which were inspired by ancient mythology.

The central hall of the palace is the Marble Hall, also called the White, Golden or Gala Hall. It is decorated with mirrors and crystal chandeliers, and was the place where balls were once held.

It is interesting to note that during communist times the rooms were rented out as offices, which led to Franz Kafka working here after finishing his law studies.

Recently, Clam-Gallas Palace has been restored and the practice of hosting concerts has been revived. The concerts are infrequent and can be quite special, so if one appears in our opera and concert listings, it is worth attending.